Collecting device for submarine oil leakage

ABSTRACT

A device for collecting oil leakage from formations beneath a body of water constructed of flexible, impervious sheet material for compact storage that can be readily erected for use by inflation. The device has a pair of predetermined upper and lower torus-shaped envelopes connected by a frusto-conical shroud with the lower envelope being of a larger diameter and adapted to be filled with a non-buoyant material to distend the same and to open the shroud to its frusto-conical form in circumscribing relation to a point of oil leakage. The upper envelope is relatively smaller and is adapted to be inflated with air to make it buoyant and to circumscribe an opening having a discharge conduit extended therefrom for transferring the oil leaking from the bottom of the body of water internally of the collecting device to the surface.

United States Patent Laval, Jr. et a]. 51 May 23, 1972 54] COLLECTING DEVICE FOR 3,550,385 12/1970 Lowd et al. ..61/465 x SUBMARINE OIL LEAKAGE Primary Examiner.laoob Shapiro [72] Inventors: Claude C. Laval, Jr.,' 2444 North Farris Attomey Huebner &worrel Ave.; Pete P. Peters, 1132 E. Santa Ana Ave., Both of Fresno, Calif. 93705 ABSTRACT A device for collecting oil leakage from formations beneath a body of water constructed of flexible, impervious sheet material for compact storage that can be readily erected for use by inflation. The device has a pair of predetermined upper and lower torus-shaped envelopes connected by a frusto-conical shroud with the lower envelope being of a larger diameter and adapted to be filled with a non-buoyant material to distend the same and to open the shroud to its frusto-conical form in circumscribing relation to a point of oil leakage. The upper envelope is relatively smaller and is adapted to be inflated with air to make it buoyant and to circumscribe an opening having a discharge conduit extended therefrom for transferring the oil leaking from the bottom of the body of water internally of the collecting device to the surface.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED MAY 2 3 I972 SHEET 1 [1F 3 CLAUDE C. LAWL /R PETE R PE TERS 5 R r m w m m w j A Mr COLLECTING DEVICE FOR SUBMARINE OIL LEAKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the continuing depletion of underground oil reserves, offshore oil drilling operations have become increasingly numerous. When leakage occurs from such submarine oil deposits, it has heretofore been economically unsalvageable, resulting in a substantial loss to the drilling companies. Such leakage is further objectionable in view of the substantial contamination of the water which kills or seriously impairs the growth of a large variety of fish and plant life. Furthermore, such leakage has contaminated the coastal beaches, rendering them completely useless for pleasure swimming, skin diving, boating and the like. The oil has caused substantial damage to the docks and seacraft moored therealong and has resulted in considerable expense to the coastal communities because of the substantial labor required to remove the oil from the beaches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved collecting device for submarine oil leakage.

Another object is to provide such an improved collecting device which can be compactly stored and quickly and conveniently inflated for immediate use.

Another object is to provide a collecting device of the character described which is adapted to be conveniently placed on the bottom of a body of water in capturing relation to oil leaking from formations beneath the water.

Another object is to provide an improved collecting device for salvaging submarine oil leakage as well as for precluding contamination of the water, beaches, and the like by such oil.

Another object is to provide an improved collecting device which is readily adapted for installation around leaking production conduits of offshore producing oil wells.

Another object is to provide such an improved collecting device which has a lower torus-shaped envelope constructed of flexible impervious material which is fillable with a nonbuoyant material for disposing the same on the bottom of a body of water in circumscribing relation to a leaking oil formation which includes a frusto-conical oil capturing shroud mounted in upwardly extended relation from the lower envelope and which is held in such position by a buoyant upper torus-shaped envelope of a smaller diameter than the lower envelope which has a suction discharge conduit connected thereto for directing such captured oil to the surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a collecting device embodying the principles of the present invention shown in an inflated operating condition.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged substantially vertical section taken diametrically through the collecting device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a second form of collecting device embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged substantially vertical section taken diametrically through the second form of collecting device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the second form of collecting device disposed in operating position around a production conduit of an offshore drilling rig.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat enlarged transverse vertical section through the connecting plates for the lower envelopes of the collecting device taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a somewhat enlarged transverse vertical section through the connecting strips of the shroud, taken on line 7 7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a third form of collecting device embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the third form of collecting device with portions broken away for illustrative convenience.

FIG. 10 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary transverse horizontal section showing a zippered flap for the collecting device, taken on line 10-10 ofFlG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIRST FORM Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a collecting device 10, embodying the principles of the present invention, is constructed substantially entirely of a flexible impervious sheet material, such as one of the polyethylene plastics, fabric impregnated with neoprene or I-Iypalon, rubber, silicon modified rubber and the like, so that it can be folded for compact storage and conveniently erected for use by inflation. The collecting device provides a pair of substantially similar inner and outer torus-shaped lower envelopes l2 and 14, respectively, which are peripherally connected in concentrically nested relation by the application of a suitable adhesive therebetween or by suitable vulcanizing methods, as dictated by the particular material employed. A plurality of hook engaging lift rings 15 are mounted on the upper peripheral portion of the outer envelope 14 for use in elevationally supporting and positioning the envelopes by a plurality of cables 16, not shown, releasably connectable to the rings. Each of the inner and outer lower envelopes 12 and 14 has a substantially upwardly extended capped filler tube 17 and 18, respectively, of a somewhat more rigid material or thickness than the envelopes, through which the interior of the envelopes is adapted to be filled with a non-buoyant, flowable material 19. In most circumstances, a non-buoyant, flowable material is utilized which can be pumped into and out of the envelopes. This permits ready weighted distention of the device for use and correspondingly ready collapse for removal, transport and/or storage. For this purpose, glycerine; mercury; acrolien dimer; acetic anhydride; many acids, such as acedic; heavy liquid plastics; heavy chlorine liquid compounds, such as ethylene dichloride, and trichloroethane; many esters, such as diethyl sulfate, ethylene carbonate and epoxide; glycols and triols, such as ethylene glycol; chromifax solvent; monomers, such as divinyl-spirobi; some alcohols, such as 2-mercaptoethanol; and some aldehydes, such as acetaldol can be utilized successfully. Usually the heavier the liquid the better because the desired ballasting is achieved with a smaller quantity having to be handled. In all instances, the non-buoyant flowable material must be compatible with the material forming the envelopes. Thus, if a heavy acid is utilized, acid resistant envelopes should be employed. Also, it is normally preferable to employ a liquid which does not react with water if the envelopes leak or which is not excessively exothermic if such leakage occurs. Where a permanent intallation is desired, sand, ready mix concrete or the like is utilized. Such material serves to distend the envelopes to their annular operating condition and to provide sufficient ballast for sinking the envelopes to the bottom of a body of water in circumscribing relation to a leaking submarine oil formation. Such flowable particulate or semi-amorphous weighting material also serves to conform the envelopes to any irregularities in the bottom so as to achieve a substantial seal thereagainst.

The collecting device of the present invention further includes a substantially frusto-conical shroud 20 having a lower annular end 21 connected by vulcanizing or the like to the outer periphery of the inner lower envelope 12. The shroud is not connected to the upper portion of the envelope but is wrapped outwardly thereover and is secured at a point between the two envelopes. This minimizes undue strain on the connection which results when it is made too high and the inner envelope rolls inwardly due to tide or wave action. The shroud has an opposite upper annular end 23 of a substantially smaller diameter than the lower end which circumscribes a constricted upper opening 24 from an oil collecting chamber 25 within the shroud. A substantially rigid annular ring, preferably constructed of stainless steel sheet material, is encased within a thickened portion of the upper end of the shroud to provide sufficient rigidity to maintain the circular configuration of the opening 24.

An upper torus-shaped envelope 30, of a substantially smaller diameter than the lower envelopes 12 and 14, is

disposed in circumscribing relation to the upper end 23 of the shroud with its lower periphery secured thereto by vulcanizing or the like. A substantially vertically disposed air filler tube 32 is extended from the upper periphery of the upper envelope and provides a suitable valve, schematically indicated by the reference numeral 33, for introducing and maintaining a volume of air within the envelope for rendering it sufficiently buoyant to maintain the shroud in a taut, frustoconical configuration in circumscribing relation to the oil collecting chamber therein when the collecting device is submerged in a body of water.

A frusto-conical or funnel-shaped cap of substantially rigid sheet material such as stainless steel or the like is disposed in covering relation to the upper opening 24 from the shroud 20. The cap provides a lower annular edge 36 which is disposed in overlapping relation to the upper end 23 of the shroud within the upper envelope and is rigidly secured to the shroud by a plurality of connecting bolts 37. The cap further includes an upwardly extended tubular connector member 38 which affords releasable connection for the lower end of an elongated oil discharge conduit 40 having an upper end, not shown, connectable to a suitable suction producing pump or the like, not shown, for creating a low pressure within the collecting chamber 25 of the shroud 20.

SECOND FORM A second form of collecting device for submarine oil leakage is shown in FIGS. 3 through-7 and is generally indicated by the reference numeral 44. The second form of collecting device is substantially similar to the first form but, as shown in FIG. 5, is particularly adapted for installation around the lower end of a production conduit of an oil producing offshore drilling rig generally indicated by the reference numeral 47. The collecting device of the second form provides a pair of inner and outer lower envelopes and 51, respectively, a shroud 53, an upper envelope 54, and a cap which are all generally similar to the corresponding elements of the first form of the present invention but which are segmented into two substantially identical half sections which are releasably connectable about the lower end of the production conduit 45 along a common parting line 57, as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the shroud, envelopes and cap of the second form may be constructed in as many segments as desired with a plurality of parting lines disposed in 180 120 or 90 increments if required for any particular use of the collecting device of the present invention.

The segments of the inner and outer lower envelopes 50 and 51, respectively, are releasably connected at one circumferentially disposed position by a pair of elongated substantially flat connector plates of substantially" rigid stainless steel material which, as best shown in FIG. 6, are secured as by bonding, vulcanizing or the like to the adjacent ends of their respective envelope segments. Each of the plates has a pair of aligned openings 62 therethrough for providing communication between the adjacent segments of the inner and outer envelopes. The connector plates further include an outer marginally extended bolting flange 63 through which is extended a plurality of connector bolts 65 releasably holding the connector plates in intimate facing engagement. A lifting ring 67 is centrally upwardly extended from the connector plates for connection with the support cables 16 utilized in the first form.

A pair of envelope blocking connector plates 70 are disposed at the opposite ends of the segments of the lower envelopes 50 and 51 in substantially diametrically opposed relation to the connector plates 60 along the parting line 57 of the collecting device. The blocking connector plates are generally similar to the connector plate 60 and provide a marginally disposed bolting flange 72 having a plurality of bolts 73 extended therethrough for holding the plates in tightly clamping relation. The blocking connector plates, however, do not have the openings 62 of the connector plates 60 so as to block the transfer of material between the segments of the envelopes. Lift rings 75 are centrally upwardly extended from the blocking connector plates 70 for connection to the lift cables 16. Each of the inner and outer lower envelopes 50 and 51, respectively, has an inlet tube 77 and an outlet tube 78 upwardly extended therefrom in closely adjacently spaced relation on opposite sides of the blocking connector plates. As in the first form, the lower envelopes are filled with a flowable non-buoyant material 79 through their respective inlet tubes 77 with the blocking connector plates 70 compelling complete circulation of the material through the envelopes by the exhaust of air outwardly through the outlet tubes ahead of such non-buoyant material during the filling operation fully to distend the envelopes and provide sufficient ballast to lower and to hold the collecting device on the bottom of a body of water in circumscribing relation to a leaking oil formation.

The adjacent edges of the segments of the shroud 53 along the parting line 57 provide pairs of elongated angle iron bolting strips 80 which may be vulcanized to their respective edges of the shroud. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, the edges of the shroud segments may be folded and tightly clamped between the adjacent bolting strips by a plurality of bolts 82. The bolting strips extend inwardly of the shroud in order to reduce the number of projections therefrom for minimizing the effect of wave action upon the device. The bolting strips, however, are easily reversible when the device is used in relatively calm water where wave action is not present in any significant amount. The shroud provides an annular lower end 84 which is secured to the upper periphery of the inner lower envelope 50 and an opposite upper end 85 which is reinforced by an enclosed annular stiffener ring 86 in circumscribing relation to an opening 87 from the shroud, as provided in the first form.

The upper envelope 54 has an upwardly extended air filler tube 90 providing a valve 92 therein with the ends of the envelope segments individually mounting annular bolting plates 93 which may be fastened to their corresponding bolting strips 80 of the shroud, as by welding or the like. The adjacent bolting plates 93 are releasably secured along the parting line 57 by a plurality of bolts 94.

The segmented cap 55 of the second form has a lower edge 96 overlapping the upper end of the shroud 53 and is secured thereto by a plurality of bolts 97. The cap has an opposite upwardly extended tubular connector member 98 for connection with the discharge conduit 40 utilized in the first form. The cap also provides a circular opening 99 disposed in eccentri cally offset relation to the connector 98 along the parting line 57. The edges of the segments of the cap include elongated bolting flanges 100 which are releasably secured in facing engagement by a plurality of bolts 102 for permitting the collecting device to be assembled around the production conduit 45 of the oil drilling rig 47 by receipt of the conduit through the eccentric opening 99 of the cap.

THIRD FORM A third form of collecting device for submarine oil leakage is shown in FIGS. 8 through 10 and is generally indicated by the reference numeral 110. The third form of collecting device is somewhat similar to the preceding forms with the exception that it employs a frusto-conical shroud 112 which has an elongated depending substantially cylindrical skirt 114 which circumscribes a substantially larger oil collecting chamber 115 than provided by the preceding embodiments. The substantially larger chamber, however, is primarily provided in order that the collecting device can be disposed in encompassing relation to any large machinery or other obstruction which may be located on the floor of the ocean at the point of oil leakage.

Like the preceding forms, the collecting device 110 has a lower torus-shaped envelope 117 providing closely spaced closed ends 118 having a pair of inlet and outlet filler tubes 120 and 121 respectively extended therefrom. As in the preceding forms, the filler tubes are employed for filling the interior of the lower envelope with a suitable ballast material which is indicated by the reference numeral 124. The lower end of the skirt portion 1 14 of the shroud 112 is vulcanized to the upper periphery of the lower envelope. The opposite frusto-conical upper end of the shroud has an upper constricted opening 128 circumscribed by an annular stiffener ring 129 encased within the upper edge of the shroud. An inverted funnel-like cap 130 is disposed in overlapping relation to the upper edge of the shroud and is securely bolted thereto by a plurality of bolt and nut assemblies 133. As in the preceding forms, the cap has an upwardly extended tubular connector member 134 for connection to the elongated oil discharge conduit 40, as utilized in the preceding embodiments.

The shroud 112 further includes an elongated side opening 140 disposed in upwardly extended aligned relation from the adjacent closed ends 118 of the lower envelope 117. The opening is releasably closed by a zipper 142 interconnecting the adjacent edges of the shroud along the side opening which provides a zipper closing runner member 144 having a handle 145 outwardly extended from the shroud. A pair of inner and outer zipper masking flaps 148 and 149, respectively, are secured along one of their edges to the shroud, by vulcanizing or the like, and provide an opposite flap edge enabling acess to the zipper 142. Accordingly, the zippered opening 140 can be utilized to open the shroud so as to permit it more conveniently to be disposed about large objects located on the floor of the ocean adjacent to the point of oil leakage.

A plurality of torus-shaped flotation envelopes 152, 153 and 154 are disposed in elevationally spaced fixed relation within the shroud and are adapted to be filled with air to maintain the shroud in a substantially taut, expanded position when submerged in circumscribing relation to a submarine oil leak. Each of the flotation envelopes provides enclosed ends 156, 157 and 158, respectively, on opposite sides of the zippered opening 140. A suitable air valve conduit 160 is extended from each of the flotation envelopes for admitting air thereto. A relatively small diameter flotation envelope 165 is disposed downwardly adjacent to the upper edge of the shroud in circumscribing relation to the opening 128 therefrom which has an upwardly extended air valve for filling the envelope with air to maintain the frusto-conical configuration of the upper end of the shroud when submerged.

OPERATION OF THE FIRST FORM The operation of the described embodiments of the subject invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. As described, the collecting device of the first form is conveniently inflated for use from its compact storage condition by the introduction of a predetermined volume of the flowable non-buoyant material 19 into the inner and outer lower envelopes 12 and 14 through their respective filler tubes 17 and 18. Such filling operation is conveniently accomplished on the deck of a surface ship, barge, or offshore drilling rig or the like concurrently with the introduction of air into the upper envelope 30 by way of the filler tube 32 and valve 33. After connection of the discharge conduit 40 to the upper connector member 38 of the cap 35, the support cables 16 are attached to the rings on the outer lower envelope 12. The cables are extendibly-retractably mounted on a suitable winching device, not shown, for lowering the collecting device into the water.

The ballast of the non-buoyant material 19 within the lower envelopes l2 and 14 causes the collecting device 10 to sink through the body of water and to be deposited on the bottom thereof in circumscribing relation to the leaking oil deposit. The buoyant upper envelope 30 floats in upwardly extended substantially concentric relation to the lower envelopes to maintain the shroud in a substantially taut condition and in its substantially frusto-conical configuration providing the oil collecting chamber therein. The low pressure produced within the collecting chamber by way of the discharge conduit 40 causes the oil leakage to be directed upwardly inwardly along the converging walls of the shroud toward the discharge opening 24 at the upper end 23 thereof and outwardly therefrom through the discharge conduit 40 for delivery to suitable containers, not shown, at the surface. The shroud is maintained in such optimum oil collecting position over the leaking oil formation by the lower envelopes with any tendency for the inner lower envelope to creep inwardly by virtue of the low pressure within the shroud being effectively resisted by the drag imposed thereon by the outer lower envelope 14.

OPERATION OF THE SECOND FORM The operation of the second form of the present invention is substantially similar to that of the first form except for its particular adaptability to being disposed around the production conduit of the offshore drilling rig 47. By virtue of its segmented configuration, the collecting device 44 of the second form may also be completely assembled at the surface. This is accomplished by assembling the segments of the cap 55 about the production conduit 45 which is slidably extended through the eccentric opening 99 therein. The flanges 100 of the cap are secured in the described manner along with the assembly of the bolting plates 93 of the upper envelope 54, the bolting strips 80 of the shroud 53, and the connector plates 60 and 70 of the inner and outer lower envelopes and 51. The upper envelope 54 is inflated with air through the filler tube 90 and the lower envelopes are filled with the non-buoyant ballast material 79 as in the first form in order to carry the collecting device downwardly for deposit upon the floor of the ocean. During such downward movement of the collecting device, it

is precisely guided by sliding downwardly along the production conduit 45 extended through the eccentric opening 99 in the cap 55. As before, the upper end of the discharge conduit 40 is connected to a suitable suction pump for creating a low pressure within the shroud 53 with the walls thereof directing accumulated oil therein upwardly through the discharge opening 87 and into the discharge conduit 40.

OPERATION OF THE THIRD FORM The operation of the third form of the present invention is substantially similar to that of the preceding forms except that the shroud 112 thereof may be easily opened by actuation of the zipper 142 to permit the collecting device to be disposed in circumscribing relation around large objects adjacent to the point of submarine oil leakage. After such placement, the zipper is conveniently actuated to close the opening in the shroud with the inner and outer flaps 148 and 149, respectively, providing a substantially fluid-tight seal to insure that substantially all of the captured oil is directed upwardly and outwardly from the shroud through the upward discharge opening 128 and the conduit 40.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the structure of the present invention provides an improved collecting device for submarine oil leakage which can be compactly stored and conveniently inflated for immediate use. The structure of the present invention is conveniently disposable in capturing relation to oil leakage emanating from the floor of the ocean and effectively salvages such oil leakage and precludes contamination of the water, beaches and the like. The present invention is also readily adapted to be provided in releasable sections for accommodating the production conduits of offshore drilling rigs. It is economical to produce and to utilize.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the illustrative details disclosed.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collecting device for submarine oil leakage comprising a lower non-buoyant envelope of flexible impervious sheet material positionable in circumscribing relation to a leaking underwater oil formation; a substantially smaller upper buoyant envelope of similar material circumscribing an oil discharge opening; a frusto-conical shroud of a material similar to the material of the envelopes interconnecting said envelopes in elevationally spaced relation to form an oil collecting chamber therebetween and to funnel such oil upwardly toward said discharge opening; a suction conduit connected to said upper envelope in communicating relation to said opening to remove accumulated oil from said collecting chamber, said envelopes being torus-shaped rings, said lower envelope being filled with a relatively heavy non-buoyant material, and said upper envelope being filled with air so that its buoyancy stretches said shroud to maintain it in a substantially taut condition between the envelopes and to dispose said upper envelope in upwardly spaced substantially concentric relation to said lower envelope, said shroud having a reinforced relatively stiff annular upper edge circumscribing said discharge opening within the upper envelope; and a substantially rigid frustoconical cap having a lower edge secured in overlapping relation to said upper edge of the shroud and including an upwardly extended tubular connector releasably connected to said suction conduit.

2. The collecting device of claim 1 in which said lower envelope comprises a pair of inner and outer torus-shaped rings disposed in concentric relation, the inner ring having an outer periphery, the shroud being secured to the outer periphery of the inner ring, and the outer ring being secured to the outer periphery of the inner ring to resist inward rotational movement of the inner ring upon said tensioning of the shroud incident to the development of a low pressure within the oil collecting chamber by said suction conduit.

3. The collecting device of claim 1 in which said envelopes, shroud and cap are provided in releasably connectable sections with said cap having an opening therethrough eccentrically related to said tubular connector for assembly of the collecting device around an oil well production conduit extended from the leaking oil formation.

4. The collecting device of claim 3 in which each of said sections of the shroud, envelopes and cap provides outwardly extended edgewardly disposed substantially rigid aligned bolting strips for releasable connection to the strips of adjacent sections.

5. The collecting device of claim 3 in which the bolting strips of said shroud are disposed inwardly thereof to minimize the effect of wave action upon the collecting device.

6. The collecting device of claim 5 in which the bolting strips of said lower envelope comprise a pair of substantially flat rigid plates providing openings therethrough to permit substantially unrestricted communication between corresponding sections of the inner and outer lower envelopes, a pair of impervious bolting plates disposed in substantially diametrically opposed relation to said plates having the openings, and sets of inlet and outlet conduits respectively disposed on opposite sides of the blocking plates with the plates compelling complete circulation of said non-buoyant material through the lower envelopes and the exhaust of air outwardly through said outlet conduits ahead of said nonbuoyant material during filling thereof.

7. A device for collecting oil leakage from formations beneath a body of water comprising:

A. lower non-buoyant means adapted to rest upon the floor of such a body of water in circumscribing relation to a submarine oil leak;

B. upper buoyant means defining a closure and having a discharge opening therethrough;

C. a shroud circumscribing and interconnecting the nonbuoyant means and the buoyant means and defining a chamber therebetween for the collection of oil,

1. the non-buoyant means being sufficiently heavy to hold the shroud and buoyant means in submerged condition whereby oil from the leak rises in the water in the chamber to the dischar e opening; and D. a conduit connected to t e buoyant means in communication with the discharge opening to draw oil from the chamber.

8. The device of claim 7 in which the lower non-buoyant means comprises an envelope of flexible material, and a flowable weighting material in the envelope adapted to cause the envelope to conform to the floor of the body of water.

9, The device of claim 7 in which the buoyant and nonbuoyant means comprise envelopes of flexible material, the buoyant means containing a gas and the non-buoyant means containing a flowable weighting material.

10. The device of claim 9, in which the upper and lower envelopes are provided with means for draining them of their gas and weighting material and the envelopes and shroud are sufficiently flexible for compact stowage and transport.

11. The device of claim 7 in which the lower non-buoyant means comprises a pair of inner and outer torus-shaped rings disposed in concentric relation, the inner ring having an outer periphery, the shroud being secured to the outer periphery of the inner ring, and the outer ring being secured to the outer periphery of the inner ring to resist inward rotational movement of the inner ring upon said tensioning of the shroud incident to the development of a low pressure within the oil collecting chamber by said suction conduit, I

12. A collecting device for submarine oil leakage comprising:

A. a lower annular envelope;

B. flowable means in the lower envelope rendering the envelope non-buoyant in water adapted to hold said envelope against the floor of a body of water in substantial conformance to the floor and in circumscribing relation to a submarine oil leak;

C. an upper annular buoyant envelope circumscribing a discharge opening therein and of a diameter substantially less than that of the lower envelope to form an inverted funnel;

D. a frusto-conical shroud of flexible material circumscribing and interconnecting the upper and lower envelopes and defining a chamber for the collection of oil from such a leak between the envelopes; and

E, a conduit connected to the discharge opening of the upper envelope to remove oil therefrom.

UNTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE QERHWCATE OF CRCTWN Patent No. 3 664, 136 Dated May 23, 1972 Inventor(s) Claude C. Laval, Jr. Pete P. Peters It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, Line 46, change "180, 120, or 90" to ---1so, 120, or 9o--- Signed and sealed this 5th day of September 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents I FORM PO-105O (10-69) USQMM.DC 60376-p6g u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 O366-33A 

1. A collecting device for submarine oil leakage comprising a lower non-buoyant envelope of flexible impervious sheet material positionable in circumscribing relation to a leaking underwater oil formation; a substantially smaller upper buoyant envelope of similar material circumscribing an oil discharge opening; a frusto-conical shroud of a material similar to the material of the envelopes interconnecting said envelopes in elevationally spaced relation to form an oil collecting chamber therebetween and to funnel such oil upwardly toward said discharge opening; a suction conduit connected to said upper envelope in communicating relation to said opening to remove accumulated oil from said collecting chamber, said envelopes being torus-shaped rings, said lower envelope being filled with a relatively heavy non-buoyant material, and said upper envelope being filled with air so that its buoyancy stretches said shroud to maintain it in a substantially taut condition between the envelopes and to dispose said upper envelope in upwardly spaced substantially concentric relation to said lower envelope, said shroud having a reinforced relatively stiff annular upper edge circumscribing said discharge opening within the upper envelope; and a substantially rigid frusto-conical cap having a lower edge secured in overlapping relation to said upper edge of the shroud and including an upwardly extended tubular connector releasably connected to said suction conduit.
 2. The collecting device of claim 1 in which said lower envelope comprises a pair of inner and outer torus-shaped rings disposed in concentric relation, the inner ring having an outer periphery, the shroud being secured to the outer periphery of the inner ring, and the outer ring being secured to the outer periphery of the inner ring to resist inward rotational movement of the inner ring upon said tensioning of the shroud incident to the development of a low pressUre within the oil collecting chamber by said suction conduit.
 3. The collecting device of claim 1 in which said envelopes, shroud and cap are provided in releasably connectable sections with said cap having an opening therethrough eccentrically related to said tubular connector for assembly of the collecting device around an oil well production conduit extended from the leaking oil formation.
 4. The collecting device of claim 3 in which each of said sections of the shroud, envelopes and cap provides outwardly extended edgewardly disposed substantially rigid aligned bolting strips for releasable connection to the strips of adjacent sections.
 5. The collecting device of claim 3 in which the bolting strips of said shroud are disposed inwardly thereof to minimize the effect of wave action upon the collecting device.
 6. The collecting device of claim 5 in which the bolting strips of said lower envelope comprise a pair of substantially flat rigid plates providing openings therethrough to permit substantially unrestricted communication between corresponding sections of the inner and outer lower envelopes, a pair of impervious bolting plates disposed in substantially diametrically opposed relation to said plates having the openings, and sets of inlet and outlet conduits respectively disposed on opposite sides of the blocking plates with the plates compelling complete circulation of said non-buoyant material through the lower envelopes and the exhaust of air outwardly through said outlet conduits ahead of said non-buoyant material during filling thereof.
 7. A device for collecting oil leakage from formations beneath a body of water comprising: A. lower non-buoyant means adapted to rest upon the floor of such a body of water in circumscribing relation to a submarine oil leak; B. upper buoyant means defining a closure and having a discharge opening therethrough; C. a shroud circumscribing and interconnecting the non-buoyant means and the buoyant means and defining a chamber therebetween for the collection of oil,
 8. The device of claim 7 in which the lower non-buoyant means comprises an envelope of flexible material, and a flowable weighting material in the envelope adapted to cause the envelope to conform to the floor of the body of water.
 9. The device of claim 7 in which the buoyant and non-buoyant means comprise envelopes of flexible material, the buoyant means containing a gas and the non-buoyant means containing a flowable weighting material.
 10. The device of claim 9, in which the upper and lower envelopes are provided with means for draining them of their gas and weighting material and the envelopes and shroud are sufficiently flexible for compact stowage and transport.
 11. The device of claim 7 in which the lower non-buoyant means comprises a pair of inner and outer torus-shaped rings disposed in concentric relation, the inner ring having an outer periphery, the shroud being secured to the outer periphery of the inner ring, and the outer ring being secured to the outer periphery of the inner ring to resist inward rotational movement of the inner ring upon said tensioning of the shroud incident to the development of a low pressure within the oil collecting chamber by said suction conduit.
 12. A collecting device for submarine oil leakage comprising: A. a lower annular envelope; B. flowable means in the lower envelope rendering the envelope non-buoyant in water adapted to hold said envelope against the floor of a body of water in substantial conformance to the floor and in circumscribing relation to a submarine oil leak; C. an upper annular buoyant envelope circumscribinG a discharge opening therein and of a diameter substantially less than that of the lower envelope to form an inverted funnel; D. a frusto-conical shroud of flexible material circumscribing and interconnecting the upper and lower envelopes and defining a chamber for the collection of oil from such a leak between the envelopes; and E. a conduit connected to the discharge opening of the upper envelope to remove oil therefrom. 